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ALMO criticised for wide-ranging health and safety failings in independent review
An ALMO responsible for managing homes on behalf of Cornwall Council has been criticised in two independent reviews, one of which highlighted wide-ranging health and safety failings.
Cornwall Council ordered an independent review into its ALMO, Cornwall Housing, after concerns were raised around its operational effectiveness last year.
The results of the review, which was carried out by housing consultancy Altair, led to a full health and safety compliance audit being carried out on the organisation by Pennington Choices consultancy.
The original review by Altair found that Cornwall Housing, which manages 10,500 homes, was “an average performing housing manager”, but said “the governance needs to change to ensure that the board can undertake its role effectively”.
Among other recommendations, it said the board’s “understanding of health and safety compliance needs to be strengthened” as “there have been significant weaknesses in oversight and scrutiny of this area”, which it said came to light following the appointment of a new chair.
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Cornwall Housing’s health and safety failings were further explored in Pennington Choice’s audit, which found that “apart from lift safety, all areas of compliance require strengthening to provide full assurance that all regulation, legislation and approved codes of practice are being met”.
The report said Cornwall Housing and the council have “self-referred to the Regulator of Social Housing in relation to 959 homes which were overdue for their 10-year electrical safety inspection”, including 500 properties that should have been inspected in 2020 but were delayed due to COVID-19.
It also found the last fire risk assessment programme was carried out four years ago in 2017.
Meanwhile, “significant issues” were found with asbestos management as 179 of the 361 sites on Cornwall Housing’s non-domestic programme do not have an inspection date recorded, despite Cornwall Housing reporting 100% compliance.
Other issues with water hygiene and gas and heating safety were also highlighted.
Overall, Pennington Choices said a “back-to-basics approach is required for electrical safety, fire safety, asbestos management and water hygiene”.
“Historically, commissioning and management of these programmes has been inadequate and under-resourced, compounded by a lack of transparent reporting and effective oversight,” it said.
It added: “The ‘line of sight’ from council through to Cornwall Housing board and down to operational management has been limited by inadequate performance reporting and a lack of understanding around key risks and obligations, to drive effective scrutiny.”
Iain Sim, the newly appointed interim managing director of Cornwall Housing, said: “We’re accountable and responsible for the management of 10,500 homes in Cornwall and we take these matters very seriously. We are contacting all our tenants and leaseholders to reassure them that we are rapidly addressing the findings in the report as the safety, health and well-being of our residents is our top priority.
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